St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-09
SENATOR INGALLS, DIPLOMA.
A College scrape of the Man Who
is Now Vice President of the

A College fScrape of the Man Who
is Now Vice President of the
United States.
"Viee President Ingalls, had narrow
escape about getting diploma from his
alma mater" remarked ST. Paul gen.
tlemap who was former classmate at
Williams college, where he was one
year ahead of the late President Gar
field, "and the circumstances which led
to it may prove of interest to the GLOBE
readers. Near Williams college, in the
town of Pittsfield, Mass, there was a
young lady seminary, known as Maple
wood Institute, and one of the practices
of the good preceptress at the head was
to give her charges an airing among the
Berkshire hills in large omnibus. BY
combination of circumstances on6
day buS-lOad of attractive femininity
pulled into the Staid old college grounds,
and Fate led them past West college, in
one OF the rooms of which was located
Sophomore John j. ingalls,. He had
provided himself with large tin horn,
and as the fair school girls passed
ms quarters he gave them an out
burst of melody with his horn
that stirred the whole college.
Nothing was said at the time, but few
ingalls, was a member assembled for the
customary rhetorical exercises, PreSi-
dent Mark Hopkins entered and took
chalr on the roStrum. Tapping the
thumb of his left hand with his eve
glaSses-a favorite habit, by the way,
when he wanted to Scold a delinquent
he called attention to Student Ingalls,
preach OF decorum, and accused him of
not being averSe to blowing his own
norm upon every occasion.
Under this castigation from the ven
cradle president Ingalls, remained silent,
but he was terribly enraged, and every
body in school knew that he would only
blde his time to get even. And it came
on graduation day. According to usage
ne had prepared an essay, which he en-
Titled Mummy Life at College," and
TINS was submitted to one of the pro-
1eSsorS for revision. Naturally, it had
to be toned, and when the manuscript
was returned to Mr.. ingalls, the
MOST TELLING POINTS,
according to his idea, were eliminated.
FINALLY he was called upon to deliver
his essay before the assembled multi
tude on commencement day, and to the
horror of president and faculty he an
nounced as his subject college Num-
mes. In keen, sarcastic manner,
Tor which he has since become foremost
IN the United States, he paid his re-
SpectS To his tutors, and persisted in
finishing his remarks, although repeat
edly told to stop.
Then he sat down and awaited devel-
opmentS. After short pause a di-
ploma was handed him, but to his
;amazement and chagrin it was a mere
blank so far as any testimonial of merit
was concerned. But ingalls, again out
Wltted the faculty, for previous to de-
hyering his speech he had visited the
college treasurer. paid his bill and OBJ
tanned receipt which included a GER
uhcate of graduation as a bachelor of
arts. To this he called the attention of
the faculty, adding that if they per-
sisted in refusing him what
was his by rights he would
at once institute suit against the col
iiege. A few days later he was made
happy by receiving properly signed
and authenticated document showing
him to be a graduate of Williams in
good standing. This took place in 1855,
ana twenty-five years later he had a
greater revenge when his alma mater
not only chose him TO deliver the annual
oratlon, but at his close conferred upon
MN without solicitation tiie degree of
Doctor of Laws. Ia Mas 20 have had
among his au' 81 latter occa-
sion the lat" -.arf,t.i,i, who. it
WILL be 0,.. as Fastening to